Hi everyone
The playgroup is aimed at 8-12 years olds, but younger or older kids and siblings are always welcome, especially if they like imaginative play and creative games.
We usually meet in Prospect Park on Thursday afternoons, and in the winter, we meet at a space on Prospect Park West in Park Slope, with a very large backyard and a large indoor meeting room ( that way people can decide to be indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather). We sometimes organize outings to shows, classes, the beach, museums, events, etc.
Please note that the playgroup is “masks optional “outdoors but “masks required” indoors, as some of our kids are immunosuppressed. We are outdoors for most of the year. Our usual winter meeting place has a large yard, so masks are needed inside the building, but not needed in the yard.
The group was started in September of 2014 and our list is pretty large (about 300 parents), but usually we only get 10-25 people at a time, which is great because kids really get to know each other after a few times and parents have a chance to become friends as well.
We aim to be an inclusive, kind and diverse community group, and to learn from each other. I have received a few questions relating to nationalities, gender, racial diversity, languages, kids with special needs, foods, and religious needs. We have no plans of sharing food, and if we do it will be planned and discussed. You are always welcome. We encourage you to speak any language you would like with your kids and others, and encourage you to come have fun with us if you are part of any religion, country, racial or cultural group, identify as any gender, or in any other way, be yourself, as long as you pay the same respect and offer the same kindness and rights to those around you and help your children do the same. We would like to meet the real you, for you to feel safe, and for us to learn to be better and do better. Sometimes we will fail, but the goal is to try and to always show kindness to each other.
The playgroup is deliciously diverse in nationalities (about 35), ideas, occupations, schooling ideas ( homeschoolers, unschoolers, homeschooling coop, and a few school kids) and backgrounds. We love welcoming new people and sharing ideas about what to do with the kids and all that is available in this amazing city called NYC.
We don’t function as a class. We sometimes have an activity planned (that is planned by different parents each time), but mostly this group is child-led with parental supervision if any problems or conflicts arise. When the weather is good we just bring games, balls, ropes, arts supplies and whatever else we feel like sharing and let the kids explore and run around. Sometimes we go on field trips together or make plans for an outing. We meet year-round.
If you would like to join us, please fill the form HERE, and I will add you to our list. There are no fees of any kind.
